Website made possible with the generous support of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Publications and Resources
A Snapshot of Juvenile Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws
Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure: Delinquency Matters
Performance Guidelines for Quality and Effective Juvenile Delinquency Representation
Northeast Regional Defender Center
In order to increase the capacity of the grassroots juvenile defense bar across the country, the National Center incorporated into its design the development of nine Regional Defender Centers. The Northeast Region includes the following four states: Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
State and Local Defender Sites
Delaware
New Jersey
New Jersey Office of the Public Defender
New York
Albany County
New York City
New York State Defenders Association
Steuben County
Pennsylvania
Adams County
Allegheny County
Armstrong County
Beaver County
Berks County
Bradford County
Bucks County
Butler County
Carbon County
Centre County
Chester County
Clearfield County
Crawford County
Cumberland County
Delaware County
Elk County
Erie County
Fayette County
Franklin County
Greene County
Huntingdon County
Indiana County
Juniata County
Lackawanna County
Lancaster County
Lawrence County
Lebanon County
Luzerne County
McKean County
Mifflin County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Northampton County
Philadelphia County
Pike County
Potter County
Somerset County
Susquehanna County
Union County
Venango County
Warren County
Washington County
Westmoreland County
York County
Recent Cases
Graham v. Florida. The Court does not permit a juvenile offender to be sentenced to life in prison without parole for a non-homicide crime.
Padilla v. Kentucky. The lawyer for an alien charged with crime has a constitutional obligation to tell the client that a guilty plea carries a risk that he will be deported. (The Court, however, did not decide whether the individual in this specific case has been prejudiced by the lawyer’s failure to give that advice.)
Important Issues
Defending LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) Youth
“LGBTQ youth may be the most disenfranchised, isolated and complex juvenile clients …. The defense attorney may be their sole advocate, visitor, ‘friendly ear,’ and even, lifeline.” – Marynella Woods, LCSW, Office of the Public Defender, San Francisco
JDAP
The Juvenile Defenders Association of Pennsylvania, Inc. (JDAP) was formed in 2006 for the following purposes and with this mission statement:
To promote quality and ethically mandated representation for all juveniles charged with acts of delinquency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
To provide a forum and opportunity to be heard and to organize those persons responsible for the defense of children charged with delinquent acts.
To coordinate all delinquency defense providers in the Commonwealth and to promote legislative, administrative and judicial change in the Commonwealth to enhance the ethical representation of children charged with delinquent conduct.
To provide for the resource and training needs of our membership whenever possible to enhance the quality of representation.
Board Members of the Juvenile Defenders Association of Pennsylvania:
Elton Anglada, Esq.
Philadelphia County
Michelle L. Bailey-Baird, Esq.
Crawford County
Lisa Douple, Esq.
Bucks County
Gabrielle Hall, Esq.
Monroe County
Barbara Lee Krier, Esq.
York County
Robert Listenbee, Esq.
Philadelphia County
Robert L. Marks Jr, Esq.
Montour County
Nancy Prescott, Esq.
Dauphin County
Georgene Siroky, Esq.
Allegheny County
Ron Turo, Esq.
Cumberland County
Mark Waitlevertch, Esq.
Allegheny County
Thomas A. Walrath, Esq.
Potter County
Selyne K. Youngclaus, Esq.
Wyoming County
Hot Topics in Juvenile Defense
Ciavarella Found Guilty on 12 of 39 Counts
February 19th, 2011 – SCRANTON – A federal jury on Friday convicted former Judge Mark Ciavarella of illegally accepting money relating to the construction of the PA Child Care center, but entirely rejected allegations he extorted Robert Powell or accepted money relating a second juvenile center.
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The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice releases its Recommendations on May 27, 2010
The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice was created in 2009 by an act of the General Assembly with the support of the Governor and the Supreme Court. Its purpose is to investigate circumstances that led to corruption in the juvenile court of Luzerne County resulting in federal criminal charges against two judges; to restore public confidence in the administration of justice, and to prevent similar events from occurring there or elsewhere in the Commonwealth.
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Attorney General Eric Holder keynotes DOJ National Symposium on Indigent Defense
The Department of Justice held its National Symposium on Indigent Defense: Looking Back, Looking Forward, 2000-2010, in Washington, D.C. on February 18-19, 2010 — the first such federal Symposium in 10 years. Attorney General Eric Holder gave the keynote address, identifying three areas of focus for the Department of Justice: commitment to an ongoing dialogue; raising awareness; and expanding the role of the public defender. He said: “In the coming weeks, we will take concrete steps to make access to justice a permanent part of the work of the Department of Justice, with a focused effort by our leadership offices to ensure the issue gets the attention it deserves. Government must be a part of the solution — not simply by acting as a convener but also by serving as a collaborator.”
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PA Juvenile Defender Resources
Contact Pennsylvania Juvenile Defenders
View and print a contact sheet of Pennsylvania Juvenile Defenders. Contact us to make corrections to the list.
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